In The Unlikeliest of Places...

Matalan is a place I love to hate, for reasons which I think are obvious to anyone who's been in one. For me, it's almost (but not quite) up there with TK Maxx as my ultimate in retail hell. Last night, however, after making an appointment for my cat's annual check-up and booster shots, the mothership suckered me into going in there - it's annoyingly situated right next door to the vet.

On previous reluctant trips into Matalan, the one area I do tend to check out is their shoe section, seeing as they usually have something semi-fierce going on in the way of heels. On this occassion I - shock horror! - actually bought a pair. Due to their being composed of cheapo plastic-y stuff, they are currently doing an alarming amount of squeaking, but they look pretty good. I am the only one in my household who doesn't think they're horrid, but that's okay. Not very good for my buy-less-cheap-crap, save-up-for-the-quality-stuff resolution, though, I do admit.

The Return of the Shoe

I came home this afternoon (empty-handed, save for a bottle of Anbesol to numb my poor gum where an abscess has developed around my very slowly emerging wisdom tooth - ouch) to find the Topshop package containing the shoes waiting for me in my porch.

As expected, they were indeed too big; oh, the heartbreak! It also has to be said, they were bloody uncomfortable. So, they've been packed back up, ready to be returned...

Looking pretty in their box as I sadly prepare them for return...

The dustbag is placed on top of them. Bye bye, shoes...

Finally, the lid goes back on the box...

I'm aleady planning what to spend the money I've just 'made' on. A supply of American Apparel basics, I'm thinking. See, very sensible.

The Shoe Shakes

Oh God, I literally feel as though I'm going to heave. I involuntarily (seriously!) clicked onto Topshop this morning (it's right there on the tool bar; my cursor just goes there all by itself every day) and they had the shoes. The shoes I've been dreaming of for weeks, since I first saw them posted on Style Bubble. There they were, available to buy. My brain disconnected from my hands and I found myself clicking Add To Bag, putting in my details and bam! I'd bought them. Yes, I'm not supposed to be buying anything right now (I've just bought a new computer; I'm going away for a few days soon; I have to pay for the cat's booster shots this month)... Yes, they're too expensive, really... YES, THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE MY SIZE!! But clickety-click, I bought them anyway, in one size too big (Goddamn you, Topshop, I'm a 38 everywhere else, why am I a 37 in your shoes?!)
Okay, so I'm rationalising this unplanned purchase thus: a) I can actually afford them. I don't like the dive the figures on my bank page have taken, but financially, it is okay; b) I have a wedding to attend in the spring for which they will be perfecto, and of course I would have had to have bought some shoes for the occasion at some point; c)I'm pretty sure the sizing won't be that out - I'll stuff cotton wool in the toes if I have to; and d) they're so pretty!
It has to be said, also, that they are not the only totally killer shoes they have right now - it's a dangerous place to browse onto today, that Topshop shoe section. (The Emma Cooks are amazing).
So, here they are. So beautiful. So giving me the shakes.

I'm so off to barf now.

EDIT: In an act of attempting to appease my concience, I've popped a few bits up for sale on Ebay. If you live in the UK (sorry, can't post abroard), please check them out. Only a couple of bits right now, but more things will appear in dribs and drabs over the next few days.

Pretty Holly

When you fall in love with a beautiful shoe, and then find out that it is not just fabulous but your namesake, well, it's a sign, isn't it, surely, that they're meant for you. Now, if only I was meant to have a £380 shoe budget.

Georgina Goodman Holly Shoes - £380

Actually, it would have to be more like a £1140 shoe budget, because I couldn't possibly decide between the three colours. My love for brighty coloured accessories has extended, though, into a current passion for all things in ice cream colours, of which I'm sure they'll be plenty around for Spring/Summer. So, while, if pushed, I would probably plump for the green Hollys, a wealth of other beautifully-hued shoes will be around for the picking. And a more affordable pair of shoes that I'm also admiring can be found at ASOS. The awful styling of their clothes normally puts me off even looking at ASOS, but they do their accessories a favour by just picturing them solo, so I don't get distracted from a cool pair of shoes by the cheap-looking styling. I'm actually quite impressed with their shoe collection, and in particular these platforms:

Asos Premium Leather Sporty Platform Sandals - £64

Grey and yellow has always evoked the 80s for me (not particularly sure why), but on these shoes the colour combo seems really fresh, and I am quite besotted with them. The shoe fest is still continuing...

Shoes Part 2!

Up until a few weeks ago, I only owned a couple of pairs of heels, and lived almost exclusively in flats. But no matter how cute a pair of pumps might be, they can never give you the thrill a pair of killer heels can, I don't think. With Christmas approaching, a few weeks ago I decided it was the right time to purchase a pair of shoes purely based on aesthetics, with no practical issues being considered. At 5'2", it's not that I don't need the height (though being petite is something I actually quite like), but I've just always considered myself to be a girl that can't do heels. With Christmas being a time of year that gives rise to occasions that provide an opportunity to bust out some heels without being required to do much walking in them, though, I bought a pair of bright orange platforms (and see this post), which I love. And I got reasonably well used to walking in them, too. But neither aesthetically nor practically are they a shoe I will wear out many places other than restaurants, people's houses, etc... Nowhere that requires me to walk much, basically. They've only fuelled my love for heels, though, and now I have these:

Hideously chipped, week-old nail varnish - Chanel

Not only are they a shoe that has the looks to go with daytime pieces, they are supremely easy and comfy to walk in! I guess it's because of the chunky, square-toed platform; whatever, they don't feel as high as they look. So, okay, I haven't worn them out yet, just around the house, but I can actually totally forget I'm wearing heels. Or almost, anyway. It does take me by surprise when I glance down and catch sight of the towering heel.

My other new shoe purchase is totally different but just as pleasing:

Knowing my tendency to wear shoes in completely inappropriate weathers, these will get totally trashed before too long, but I am really loving them. The bright colour, the cute fabric and the comfort factor. You know, I always used to consider myself a bag girl, despite apparently being fascinated with shoes even when in my pushchair, but right now it's most definitely shoes, of all types, that I can't get enough of.

Above shoes both from Topshop (yeah, I know it's sick how obsessed I am).

Shoes Part 1

A few days ago, I posted about a fabulous pair of Nicholas Kirkwood shoes in the Browns sale. After debating for a while whether I would cut down on high street purchases and buy them, I realised that they are only available in sizes 36 and 39 - the former too small, the latter too big. Oh no! (I consoled myself by hitting the Topshop website -whoopsie! I guess the answer to whether I can 'do' buying less high street is a resounding NO - more on my Topshop purchases later). So, anyway, yesterday I came across these F-Troupe booties at the Amelie Boutique. Reduced from £110 to £55 and available in every size from a 4 to a 7!



Photo: amelieboutique.com

However, I have bought far too much lately as it is, and so somehow I have found it within myself to resist them. It's not easy! But, selflessly, I pass this find on to anyone who may read this and adore them as much as I do!

High Street v High End

Photo: brownsfashion.com

Though I am not one for New Year's resolutions, if there is one thing I would make up my mind to do in 2009, it's to buy less but better. I checked my bank statement for the period since 10th December and the amount I have spent on the high street in less than a month would easily buy me a dream pair of Nicholas Kirkwood shoes (pictured above) - currently in the Browns sale at a price I baulked at until I realised I'd spent about the same amount in Topshop in the last three weeks. (Of course, I could just stop spending so much money full-stop, but I really don't think that's something I'm capable of.) Anyway, as fond as I am of my Topshop purchases (and, boy, do I heart Topshop), I'm sure the fashion-tingle I would get from these purple/blue beauties would be incomparable. So, can I do it, can I actually go for quality over quantity? Hmm...

Today's Outfit and Some New Goodies

Bowler, cardie, jacket, gloves and leggings, all Topshop; Patti Smith T-shirt (you can't actually see it) and shoes, Urban Outfitters; scarf, Zara.

I've been hunting for a pair of black, flat, studded boots, and today, though they're not exactly what I had pictured in my head, I found these, which are pretty good:

And I found them in Peacocks for £9. I also picked up these goodies while out today:

L-R: Dior by Dior: The Autobiography of Christian Dior, which I bought with a Christmas book voucher; my favourite, coconut-scented, shampoo; and some pretty stationary to write thank yous.